Selvakumar Knew Better

by Virginia Kroll

Overview

This true story of a courageous and clever dog who saved a boy's life during the devastating tsunami of 2004 is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages.

"Tsunami! Run!"

The bright December morning dawned like any other. The Ramakrishnan family went about their daily business, but their scruffy yellow dog, Selvakumar, felt something in the air.

When a low rumbling noise began to fill the village, Papa climbed on the roof to see what was happening. What he saw was a wall of water rushing toward the shore. "Tsunami! Run!" The family scrambled to outrun the huge wave, but seven-year-old Dinakaran misunderstood. He ran toward his house, where he huddled in a corner for safety.

But Selvakumar would not let him stay there. Barking, nudging, and dragging Dinakaran by the collar, Selvakumar managed to convince him to flee from the house toward the hill. As they reached higher ground, the boy stopped to catch his breath, but Selvakumar knew better. He pushed him even higher to where Mama and Papa had fled and were waiting, worrying about their eldest son.

This true story of a courageous and clever dog who saved a boy's life during the devastating tsunami of 2004 is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages. While the region is still struggling to recover from the disaster and families rebuild what they have lost, Selvakumar reminds us that with our loved ones beside us, no obstacle is too great to be overcome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619890169
Publisher:	Shen's Books
Publication date:	01/11/2012
Sold by:	Sachmanya
Format:	eBook
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Virginia Kroll is the author of over 50 books for children, many of them multicultural. She loves animals and nature and is aware of the deep connection between dogs and humans. Her current companions are Daisy, a gentle, smooth-haired collie, Ying-Yang, an affectionate shih-tzu, and Bella, a spirited chihuahua. Virginia is married to David Haeick and has six children. She lives in the delightful Village of Hamburg, New York, just south of Buffalo.

Xiaojun Li is an internationally known children's book illustrator, earning him awards in China, Japan, and the United States. Other picture books he has illustrated include The Narwhal's Tusk and The Magic Brocade. Born and raised in Chinese Inner Mongolia, Xiaojun Li now lives with his wife and son in Davis, California.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 3-This picture book is inspired by the true story of an Indian boy, Dinakaran, who escaped the 2004 tsunami with the help of his dog, Selvakumar. While the boy's family innocently goes about their morning routine, the dog whines and paces to alert them to impending disaster. When Dinakaran runs to the house in the midst of the tsunami, instead of further inland, his pet stays with him until he is able to herd the boy to safety. Li's rich illustrations are breathtaking, but the tension and emotion wrapped up in the characters' faces are often lacking in the text. The narrative veers off course when the believable portrayal of a dog's extra sense turns into his fortune-telling: "Didn't they know that a mighty earthquake had rumbled under the ocean and would soon bring raging waves onto the shore?" A merely adequate option for a discussion on tsunamis.-Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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